Different PVA-Hydroxypropyl Guar Gum Irradiated Nanosilica Composite Membranes for Model Drug Delivery Device

   High strength and elastic biodegradable membranes are of great demand in modern technology. Similar membranes have been developed by irradiating different weight poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) – hydroxypropyl guar gum (HPG) blends and followed by combining with ex situ nanosilica. Polarized light microscopic (PLM) study indicates that electron beam irradiation produced crosslinks and developed crystallinity in PVA-HPG matrix. Atomic force microscopic analysis shows that 1 wt.% nanosilica produced finer dispersion in both high and low molecular weight PVA-HPG matrix resulting nearly 4.5 times higher mechanical strength and controlled swelling-deswelling property e.g., low molecular weight PVA with 1wt% nanosilica content show swelling ratio 3.5. Greater nanosilica and PVA-HPG interaction was observed in low molecular PVA-HPG composite membranes than high molecular weight PVA-HPG composite membranes which finally showed better efficacy towards drug retention and elution under physiological condition.